The Olympians who captured the public's hearts in defeat
The Olympic motto maybe Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger) however ahead of the Games in Beijing we look back at some of Olympians that could fall into the category of slower, lower, weaker - and the ones who captured the public's hearts in defeat.
Eric "The Eel" Moussambani
From howls of laughter to a standing ovation, Eric Moussambani won over the crowd in the aquatics centre at the 2000 Games in the space of just under two minutes. Splashing around like an excitable puppy in his heat of the 100m freestyle, Moussambani literally looked completely out of his depth. However like a 10-year-old determined to win their swimming badge, Moussambani , from Equatorial Guinea, manfully stuck at the task to finish in 1:52.72 - the slowest time for the 100m and even slower even than the 200m world record. Moussambani, who had only taken up swimming eight months before the Games and who had never been in a 50m pool, exited to a standing ovation and a new nickname of "The Eel".
Paula "The Crawler" Barila Bolopa
According to one report Paula "The Crawler" Barila Bolopa's performance in Sydney made Eric The Eel's efforts look truly electric. Bolopa arrived in Sydney with Moussambani from Equatorial Guinea with no chance of coming close to matching her rivals, but that did not stop her. And just like The Eel, she earned her place in the record books - clocking the slowest time for the 50m, coming home in 1:03.97. However she was treated to the sort of reception afterwards that you would have thought she had won the gold medal.
Derek Redmond
Alongside Roger Black, John Regis and Kriss Akabusi, Derek Redmond had formed the triumphant 4x400m relay team which pipped the USA to gold in the 1991 World Championship. As a result Redmond was expected to challenge for a medal in the Barcelona Olympics the following year. However, having recorded the fastest time in the first round in winning his quarter-final, his hopes came to abrupt end when his hamstring popped 150m into his semi-final. Redmond collapsed to the track in agony, but although the stretcher bearers rushed out to him, he pulled himself up and bravely attempted to limp his way to the finish. With pain etched across his face and looking like he might have to give up, he was suddenly joined by his father Jim, who had forced his way on to the track to help his son. Together the duo made it across the finish line to rapturous applause.
Abdul Baser Wasiqi
It is difficult not to feel sorry for Afghan runner Abdul Baser Wasiqi, who saw years of training for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 ruined by a hamstring injury. However, refusing to let his Olympic marathon dream die, Wasiqi opted to still take part in the gruelling event. Unsurprisingly there was to be no dream finish for Wasiqi, who finally crossed the finish line while officials were packing away. Wasiqi's time of 4:24:17 meant he finished 111th out of 111 - 90 minutes after the second to last athlete.
Mala Sakonninhom
To record 13secs for the 100m in the Olympics is hardly something to be proud off - however for Olivette Daruhi she could at least claim she wasn't last. In the eighth heat of the first round of the Seoul Games, Daruhi was trailed home by Mala Sakonninhom. The Laos athlete - a word used in the loosest sense - clocked the Olympic worst time of 15.12, which was over four-and-a-half seconds slower than Florence Griffith Joyner's gold medal-winning run in the final.
Ralf Leberer
Poor old Leberer was one of Germany's hopes of success in the 110m hurdles in Sydney, but he failed to make it past the first round after a clash with Britain's Tony Jarrett. Leberer was practically knocked off his feet by the British sprinter after Jarrett encroached on his lane. The German dusted himself done to finish in 56.74 seconds, while Jarrett was subsequently disqualified.
Luvsanlkhundeg Otgonbayar
The oppressive heat during the marathon in Athens took its toll on a number of athletes, including the favourite Paula Radcliffe. However while Radcliffe just couldn't continue, Luvsanlkhundeg Otgonbayar shuffled along defiantly to complete the event in 3:48:42 - 30 minutes after the last of the competitors had finished. The crowd remained in the stadium to see the 22-year-old Mongolian finish, with Otgonbayar claiming the sound of clapping had spurred her on.
Samia Hireche
Algeria might not be known for their strong rowing teams, but that did not stop Samia Hireche attempting to win a medal in two Olympics. In Atlanta in 1996, Hireche lined up for the women's single sculls rowing event but came home a distant last in 9:28.41. However not to be put off, she returned to for the Games four years later - and although she was almost a minute quicker in her heat, she was still last.
George Stuart Robertson
To show how far the Games has evolved, you need to look no further than George Stuart Robertson who competed in the first Olympics in both tennis and the discus. His throw of 25.20m saw him finish last out of the four competitors in the discus - and hold the record of the worst distance in Olympic history. Robertson then turned his attention to tennis, losing his first round to Konstantinos Paspatis of Greece. However their was some joy for Robertson as he won a bronze in the doubles alongside Australian Teddy Flack - however this was more due to luck as they received a bye into the semi-finals before losing their only match.
Eddie Edwards
No list of loveable losers would be complete without Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards. The plasterer from Cheltenham finished last in both the 70m and 90m jumps at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. With no funding, ill-fitting clothing and glasses that continually misted up and hampered his vision during jumps, the odds were always stacked against Edwards. However that did not stop the man dubbed a 'ski dropper' by one journalist giving his all - and earning cult status.